Blueberry plant named “BB05-251MI-14”

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of blueberry plant named ‘BB05-251MI-14’ as described and shown herein. ‘BB05-251MI-14’ is a new and distinct high chill tetraploid Northern highbush blueberry ( Vaccinium ) variety of ancestry based largely on  V. corymbosum  with a limited number of genes from  V. angustifolium . It is a productive late season variety that ripens approximately at the same time as Liberty, and 21 days after Bluecrop. ‘BB05-251MI-14’ provides a very good yield potential, a very good plant vigor, fruit quality and firmness, as well as mechanical harvest potential, and very good flavor and texture.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

Blueberries are a well-known fruit enjoyed by many throughout the world.One example of an existing, patented blueberry variety is Bluecrop,unpatented. Another example of an existing, patented blueberry varietyis Elliott, also unpatented.

Compared to Bluecrop, ‘BB05-251MI-14’, has a medium upright bush shapecompared to a spreading shape for Bluecrop. Also, Bluecrop's meanharvest date is 3 weeks before the harvest date for ‘BB05-251MI-14’, and‘BB05-251MI-14’ has a larger berry size, a much firmer berry, and a verylong storage compared to Bluecrop.

Compared to Elliott, Elliott has a more spreading bush shape than‘BB05-251MI-14’, and Elliott is 7 days later. The fruit size for‘BB05-251MI-14’ is much larger than Elliott and Elliott has smaller anda more narrow leaf shape compared to ‘BB05-251MI-14’.

The present cultivar, ‘BB05-251MI-14’, provides one or more advantagescompared to these and/or other blueberry varieties.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

FIG. 1 is a close-up photograph taken in July 2012 of the Blueberrycultivar ‘BB05-251MI-14’, showing mature leaves that show the shape,coloration, venation, petiole length and color, and internode length ofthe variety.

FIG. 2 is a photograph taken in July 2012 of the Blueberry cultivar‘BB05-251MI-14’, showing a potted mature bush that shows the bush shape,branching pattern, fruit clusters and fruit presentation of the variety.

FIG. 3 is a close-up photograph taken in July 2012 of the Blueberrycultivar ‘BB05-251MI-14’, showing a fruit cluster with ripe and unripefruit, and also showing cluster density, pedicel attachment, peduncle,fruit shape and calyx size.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Note: statements of characteristics herein represent exemplaryobservations of the cultivar herein and will vary depending on time ofyear, location, annual weather, etc. Where dimensions, sizes, colors,and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that suchcharacteristics are approximations and averages. The descriptionsreported herein are largely from specimen plants grown near GrandJunction in 2011 and 2012. Data were obtained on plants that were 6years old.

-   Cultivar name: ‘BB05-251MI-14’.-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Ericaceae.        -   Botanical name.—Vaccinium corymbosum.        -   Common name.—Blueberry.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Name: Liberty (Brigitta unpatented×Elliott            unpatented). U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,146. Compared to            Liberty, ‘BB05-251MI-14’ has a maturity date that is 3-5            days earlier. ‘BB05-251MI-14’ has a slightly rounder berry            shape and darker blue color than Liberty. ‘BB05-251MI-14’            also has a slightly larger size berry and much firmer berry            compared to Liberty.        -   Male parent.—Nelson (Bluecrop unpatented×G107 unpatented).            U.S. Plant Pat. No.: none. Compared to Nelson,            ‘BB05-251MI-14’ matures 7 to 10 days later. ‘BB05-251MI-14’            has a slightly larger and much firmer berry than Nelson.            ‘BB05-251MI-14’ has a slightly darker blue color, and much            improved storage ability compared to Nelson. Also, Nelson            has much more spreading bush shape than ‘BB05-251MI-14’.

‘BB05-251MI-14’ was created from a cross in a greenhouse in South Haven,Mich., in 2005. Emasculated flowers of Liberty were hand pollinated withpollen from Nelson. Seed was sown, germinated, and plants were grown for18 months and then planted in a seedling evaluation plot near Muskegon,Mich. in 2007. The plant was evaluated for 3 years and first selected in2010, based on its excellent and desirable fruit and morphologicalcharacteristics—maturity date, bush habit, berry quality, flavor, andstorage ability. The bush was dug from the field in October 2011 andtransplanted into a pot and placed in a virus-free screened greenhouse.Additional plants have been propagated by softwood cuttings and tissueculture. The plants propagated have retained the originalcharacteristics. Five and ten bush advanced trials have been planted inGrand Junction, Gobles, South Haven, and Muskegon, Mich. in 2011 and2012.

‘BB05-251MI-14’ was first asexually propagated from softwood cuttings in2011 in Grand Junction, Mich. The cuttings were rooted from the selectedplant and several times since as desired. Micropropagation by tissueculture was also first initiated in 2011 and produced 200 cloned plants.The propagated plants from softwood cuttings and tissue culture haveretained the original characteristics. This variety roots readily fromsoftwood cuttings and tissue culture microshoots.

Field observations were made in 2012 on a mature 6-year old plantlocated in Grand Junction, Mich. Laboratory analysis of fruitcharacteristics were also done in Grand Junction.

General comments: ‘BB05-251MI-14’ is a new and distinct high chilltetraploid Northern highbush blueberry (Vaccinium) variety of primarilyV. corymbosum, with a limited number of genes from V. angustifolium,from the breeding program of Berry Blue LLC. It is a productive mid-lateseason berry that ripens between Bluecrop and Elliott, two widelyplanted cultivars. It is characterized as having large fruit, mediumlight blue in color, very firm with a very small and dry picking scar.The fruit is well exposed on a vigorous medium upright bush. Along witha small crown, a loose fruit cluster, concentrated ripening, very firmand easily detachable fruit, the variety displays characteristicssuitable for mechanical harvest. It is intended for areas thatsuccessfully grow high chill Northern highbush varieties. Ripe fruit arelarge, typically between 2.5-3 grams/berry. The mean date of floweringin southern Michigan is May 1. Frost protection may be needed forsuccessful pollination and fruit set. Winter chill requirement forsuccessful flowering and leafing is at least 1000 hours below 7° C.Flowering and leafing are synchronous. The mean ripening date is aboutJuly 28. Fruit shape is oblate with a medium high amount of waxy bloomthat is persistent following handling. ‘BB05-251MI-14’ has excellentyield, mechanical harvest characteristics, extended storage ability,flavor and quality.

References to color refer to The Pantone Book of Color, Eisemann andHerbert, Harry N. Abrams, Inc. Publishers, New York, ISBN 0-8109-3711-5,1990.

SpectraMagic NX Model CR410, Konica Minolta, Japan.

Morphological characteristics reference: Plant Systematics, Jones andLuchsinger, 2 Ed., McGraw Hill, New York, ISBN 0-07-032796-3, 1986.

Firmness readings—BioWorks FirmTec2, Wamena, Kans.

-   Average size information: Medium large bush, medium upright shape,    6-year old plant 120 cm height, 115 cm width, height/width ratio    1:1.-   Growth: Very good.-   Productivity: Very good.-   Cold hardiness: Leaf and flower buds −26° C., open flowers and fruit    −2° C.-   Specific features of the variety:-   Plant:    -   -   Growth habit.—Medium upright.        -   Plant width.—90 cm.        -   Plant height.—120 cm.        -   Spread.—115 cm.        -   Productivity.—6-7 lbs per mature bush.        -   Cold hardiness/tolerance.—Leaf and flower buds −26° C.,            flowers and fruit −2° C.        -   Chilling requirement.—1000+ hours below 7° C.        -   Canes.—Modestly branched, 8-9 canes/bush, 40-50 cm range,            average 44 cm; medium number of laterals.        -   Mature cane color.—Pantone Gray Sand 13-1010.        -   Texture.—Medium smooth.        -   Fruiting wood.—Smooth, immature winter color — Pantone Amber            Gold 16-1139; immature summer color — Pantone Nile 14-0223.        -   Internode length range.—15-22 mm range, average 18 mm.        -   Surface texture of new wood.—Smooth.        -   Mature canes.—Circular, 20 mm width.        -   Time of beginning of leaf bud burst (include            location(s)).—April 15 (Grand Junction, Mich.).        -   Time of beginning of flowering (include location(s)).—April            25 (Grand Junction, Mich.).        -   Time of fruit ripening (include location(s)).—July 28 (Grand            Junction, Mich.).        -   Disease resistance/susceptibility.—None claimed.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf color.—Upper — Pantone Peridot 17-0336; lower — Pantone            Piquant Green 17-0235.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Leaf margins.—Smooth.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate.        -   Leaf apices.—Acute.        -   Leaf bases.—Acute.        -   Vein and petiole colouration.—Pantone Jade Lime 14-0232.        -   Petiole length.—2 mm.        -   Leaf dimensions.—Overall shape: 60 mm-68 mm range, average            65 mm. Width: 30 mm-35 mm range, average 32 mm.        -   Leaf margins.—Entire; no visible pubescence or nectaries.        -   Leaf surface.—Upper — a few white hairs on midrib (visible            30× microscope); lower — none.-   Flower:    -   -   Flower shape.—Elongate urceolate.        -   Flower bud number.—Medium high.        -   Flowers per cluster.—4-7, avg 6.        -   Flower fragrance.—Light floral.        -   Corolla color.—Pantone Turtle Dove 12-5202.        -   Corolla length.—8 mm.        -   Corolla aperture width.—4 mm.        -   Flower peduncle.—16 mm.        -   Color.—Pantone Willow Green 15-0525.        -   Flower pedicel.—7 mm.        -   Color.—Pantone Willow Green 15-0525.        -   Calyx (with sepals).—2 mm.        -   Color.—Pantone Willow Green 15-0525.        -   Stamen.—Length: 7 mm.        -   Number per flower.—10.        -   Filament color.—Pantone Caramel 16-1439.        -   Style.—8 mm.        -   Color.—Pantone Moss 16-0532.        -   Pistil.—6 mm, top of ovary to stigma tip.        -   Ovary color.—Pantone Moss 16-0532.        -   Anther.—Length: 3 mm.        -   Number.—10.        -   Color.—Pantone Caramel 16-1439.        -   Pollen.—Abundance: high.        -   Color.—Pantone Vanilla 12-0712.-   Fruit:    -   -   Date of 50% maturity.—July 28 (Grand Junction, Mich.).        -   Yield.—6-7 lbs/bush.        -   Berry color.—With wax: Pantone Cerulean 15-0420,            SpectraMagic (L, a, b) 43.17, 0.87, −3.23. With wax removed:            Pantone Majolica Blue 19-4125.        -   Berry flesh color.—Pantone Frozen Dew 13-0513.        -   Berry surface wax abundance.—Medium-heavy, persistent.        -   Calyx.—Width — 5 mm; depth — 2 mm; shape — 5 lobed; slight            ridging of lobes, pointed inward.        -   Berry weight.—2.7 grams/berry.        -   Berry size diameter.—18 mm width, 13 mm height, Aspect (H/W)            — 0.7.        -   Berry shape.—Oblate.        -   Cluster density.—Loose.        -   Detachment force.—Easy.        -   Self-fruitfulness.—Good; cross pollination will enhance            maximum yield and size.        -   Fruit stem scar.—Very small, <1 mm, dry.        -   Berry firmness.—Firm; FirmTec2 reading — 260 g/mm².        -   Berry sweetness.—Medium, high Brix° 13.6.        -   Berry acidity.—Medium, TA — 0.84.        -   Berry flavor and texture.—Very good flavor with balanced            sweetness and acidity, crunchy and juicy.        -   Suitability for mechanical harvesting.—Very good due to firm            fruit, bush shape, crown size, cluster density.-   Seed:    -   -   Seed abundance in fruit.—Medium 15-20/fruit.        -   Seed color.—Pantone Sunflower 176-1054.        -   Seed dry weight.—NA.        -   Seed size.—1 mm.-   Possible typical market uses: Fresh market, processing into jams,    puree, yogurt.-   Storage quality: Outstanding, 6+ weeks in refrigerated storage.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Blueberry plantnamed ‘BB05-251MI-14’ as described and shown herein.